Insulating apparatus.



No. 632,654. Patented Sept. 5, I899. G. G. LEWIS. INSULATING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Sept, 17, 1897.) v

2 Sheets-Shaat I.

(No Model.)

No. 632,654. Patnted Sept. 5, I899.

. a. a. LEWIS.

INSULATING APPARATUS.

Application filed Sept. 17, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Shee't 2.

(No Model.)

.Iso

UNITED QTATES' PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. LEWIS, OF SYCAMORE, ILLINOIS.

INSULATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,654, dated September 5, 1899. Application filed Septemberfl, 1897. Serial 1T0.'652,029. (No model.)

To all whom it may-concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE G. LEWIS, a

citizen of the United States, residing in Sycamore, in the county of De Kalb, State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insulating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.-

My invention relates to'apparatus for coat ing or recoating wires with insulating material in liquid form, and has for its object to provide an apparatus by which the insulating material may be applied to the wire uniformly on all sides expeditiously and without much labor on the part of the operator.

That which I regard as new will be set forth in the claims.

Referring, to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view; Fig; 3 is a longitudinal vertical the apparatus, the remainder being in side elevation. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section online 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a longitudi nal vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Stated generally, my improved apparatus consists of a reservoir for the insulating material or paint, as it is commonly called, a; conveyor-belt by which the paint is elevated from the reservoir to a point above the wire to be coated, means for transferring the paint from the conveyor to and discharging it upon the wire, and means for wiping the wire in order to smooth the paint and remove drippings. My improved apparatus also contains means for carrying back the surplus paint to the reservoir.

Referring to the drawings, 6 indicates a reservoir, which is preferably a tank mounted upon a. pole 7, the polebeing for the purpose of raising the apparatus to the wire 8. As

shown in Fig. 4, thepole' is I preferably ar-' ranged at one side of the reservoir, but it may be otherwise arranged, if desired.

9 indicates a pulley which is journaled in the lower portion of the reservoir, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4; 1

10 indicates a second pulley, which is journaled in a suitable support 11 above the reservoir and wire. In the form of apparatus illustrated in the drawings the support 11 consists of a bar, one end of which extends upwardto receive the journal 12 of the pulley 10', the lower end of said bar extending down section of part otinto the reservoir and forming a support-for the journal of the lower pulley 9, thence passing up and being secured to a framework 13,

which carries a pole-socket 14. These details of construction, however, may be varied, and I do not Wish to'be'restricted to mounting the parts specifically in the manner described.

15 indicates an endless belt which passes around the pulleys 9 10, as shown in the drawings.

16 indicates a perforated wheel which is arranged at one side of the pulley 10 in juxtaposition thereto and is preferably mounted upon the same journal 12. If desired, the pulley ,10 and wheel 16 maybe made integral with each other; but the wheel 16 should be of somewhat less diameter than the pulley 10, so that the paint carried by the belt 15 may be scraped from said belt onto the periphery of the wheel 16.

, 17 indicates a scraper which is mounted over the pulley 10 and is adapted to scrape the upper surface of the belt 15. 17 is provided with back and end plates 18 19, respectively, and with a nose 20, arranged to discharge upon the perforated wheel 16 as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,:an'd preferablyv the body of the scraper is tilted slightly toward the wheel 16, so that the paint scraped from the belt 15 will readily flow onto said wheel.

21 22 23 24: indicate side and end plates which together form a funnel-shaped box or casing by which drippings are directed back into the reservoir 6.

25 indicates'a roller arranged at the front of the device, mounted upon a suitable journal carried by a pivoted arm 26, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

27 indicates the pivot of thearm 26, which is arranged about midway of the length of said arm, as shown in Fig. 3.-

28 indicates a slot in the arm 26 near its end.

29 indicatesasecond arm pivoted on a pivot 30 in a manner similar to the arm 26, except that it is at the other side of the center of the device, as shown in Fig. 3, and as there shown the arms 26 29 are connected by a which passes through the slot 28 in the arm 26 and through a suitable hole in the arm 29. The arm 29 carries at its outer end a holder 32 for a wiper 33, said holder being arranged to hold the wiper up against the under side bolt 31,

' the placed. The pulley also coacts with the forated wheel 16.

of the wire. By this construction when the roller 25 is raised the wiper will. also be rais d. As shown in Fig. 2, the roller '25 is provided with a-groove' 34, and said groove is arranged in line with the wiper 33 and with the.

perforated wheel 16, by which arrangement when the groove in the roller 25 receives the wire to be coated the apparatus will be guided along the wire in such manner that the perforated wheel 16 will be directly over the'wire and the wiper 33 directly under it.- In operation as the operator moves the apparatus; along there will be more or less of an upward pressure against the "grooved roller 25, and consequently the wiper will be [forced up prevent lateral displacement of the apparatus, 35 at one the roller 25 is provided with a disk side, and the perforated wheel 16 is provided with wire from that at which the disk- 35 is disk 36 toprevent lateral'displacem'ent ofthe apparatus. -As the 'apparatusmoves alongthe frictional contact of the wire and the perforated wheel 16 will'cause said wheel to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, thereby rotating 9, and consequently operating the belt 15, which descends into the paint on one side, rising on the other with a coating of paint. 'As the belt passes under the scraper 17 the paint on its outer surface is scraped off and discharged through the nose 20 upon the per- A part of the paint passes through the perforations in saidwheel, the

remainder being carried around dn the outer surface thereof; but all the paint discharged upon said wheel is finally delivered upon the wire in a stream, as what passes through the upper perforations in said'wheel is dropped throughthe lower perforations to the wire. After the paint has been applied to the upper surface of the wire, as above stated, it flows around to a greater or less extent to the under side thereof until the wiper 33 is reached,when the accumulated paint is spread smoothly over the under surface and sides of the wire by thewiper, all superfluous paint being removed. As soon .as the wiper becomes saturated with paint the surplus drips from it into a pan 37, arranged below it, and thence flows into thereservoir through openings 38, provided for that purpose, as shown in Fig. 5. 39 indicates a strainer in the pan 37 to intercept impurities.

Instead of operating myimprovedinsulatin g apparatus by means of a pole from the ground a cord may be attached to it, so. that itmay be drawn alongthe wire. W'hen the apparahaving been filled a similar disk 36 at the opposite side of.

g to elevate the the pulleys 10 and tus is used in this manner, the wiper is held up in contact with the wire by a spring 40, one end of which is connected to the arm 29 near the wiper, the other end being connected to a suitable stationary support 41, connected to the frame of the apparatus, as shown in Fig. 3, the bolt 3l under such circumstances being removed.

I have described myimproved apparatus indetail, but wish it to be understood that Ido not limit myself to the specific construction described, as many modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of 'my invention. Furthermore, while I have described my invention as an insulating apparatus, I wish it to be understood that I do not wish to be restricted to usingit for that purpose alone, as it may be used for any other purpose to which it is adapted; and it should be understood that it is not limited to insulatiug wires or to use with insulating material, as it maybe used for paintingother objects. I

That which I claim as my'invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is "1. In: a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir'carried below the object to be painted,ofmeans automatically acting to elevate the paint and apply it in a stream to said, object, substantially as described.

2. Ina painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir carried below the object to be painted, of means automatically'act-ing paint and discharge it in a stream upon the object to be painted, from above, substantially as described.

3. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir carried below the wire to bepainted, of means automatically acting to elevate the paint and discharge it from above in a stream upon the wire, and a wiper'acting on the painted wire after the paint has been discharged upon it,substan'tially as described.

etxln a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir carried below the wire to be painted, of means automatically actingto elevate the paint and discharge it from above in astream upon the wire, the painted ,wire after the painthas been discharged upon it, and a guideat the forward end ofthe apparatus, substantially as'described. v

5. In a painting apparatus, thecombination with a reservoir adapted to contain paint, of a conveyer adapted to conduct the paint from the reservoir to the object to be painted, and means for removing the paint from said 'conveyer and applying it in a stream to the painted, substantially as de-' object to be scribed.

6. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir, of a conveyor adapted ,to

conduct the paint from said reservoir to the object to be painted, and a scraper for removingthe paint from said conveyor and discharging it in a stream onthe object ,to be painted, substantially as described.

IIO

7. In a painting 'apparatus,'the combination with a reservoir, of a paint-conveyer con sisting of pulleys and an endless belt carried thereby, means for operating said conveyer by the movementof the apparatus along the wire, and means for removing the paint from the belt and discharging it .upon the wire, substantially as described.

8. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir; ofv a paint-conveyer con sisting of pulleys and an endless belt carried thereby, means for-operating said conveyer by the movement of the apparatus along the wire, and a scraper acting toscrape the paint from the surface of the belt and discharging it upon the wire, substantially as described.

9. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir, of a paint -conveyer adapted to carry paint from said reservoir to a pointahove the object to be painted, and a wheel adapted to travel on the object to' be painted, said wheel being arranged to receive paint from said conveyer and to discharge it upon the object to be painted, substantially as described.

10. In a painting'apparatus, the combination with a reservoir, of a wheel adapted to receive paint from said reservoir and to apply it in a stream to the object to be painted, substantially-as described.

11. In a painting apparatus, the combination of a reservoir, and a perforatedwheel adapted to receive paint from said-reservoir and to. apply it in a stream to the object to be painted, substantially as described.

12. Ina painting apparatus, the combination with areservoir, of a paint-conveyer consisting of pulleys and an endless belt carried thereby, means for operating said conveyor by the movement of the apparatus along the wire, a wheel connected to one of said pulleys and traveling on said wire, and means fol transferring paint from said belt to said wheel, substantially as described.

13. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir, of a paint-conveyer consisting of pulleys and anendless' belt carried thereby, means for operating said conveyor by the movement of wire, a wheel connected to one ofi said pulposits sides of the the apparatus along the leys and traveling on said wire, means for transferring paint from said belt to said wheel, and a guide-roller arranged in advance of said wheel, substantially as described.

' 14. In-a painting apparatus, the combina-- tion with a reservoir, of a paint-conveyer con-- 'sisting of pulleys and an endless belt carried thereby, means for operating said conveyor by the movement of the apparatus along the "wire, a wheel connected to' I one. of said pub 'leys and traveling on saidwire, means for transferring paint from said belt to said.

wheel, a-guide-roller arranged in advance of said wheel, and a wiper behind said wheel, substantially as described.

15. Tue pa nting apparatus, the COIllblllE-i tion of pivotally-suppor'ted arms 26 29, said arms being loosely connected together, a guide-roller carried by one of said arms,-a wiper carried by the other of said arms, said guide-roller and wiper being arranged. at opwire, and means forapplying paint to the wire between' said guide roller and wiper, substantially as described.

16. Ina painting apparatus, tionwith suitable supporting devices, of a. guide-roller a'rrangedat'the forward end of the apparatus,'a wiper at the rear end of the apparatus, means for applying paint to the wire between said guide-roller and wiper, and

means for automatically applying said wiper to the wire when said guide-roller is moved. in an upward direction, substantially as described.

17. In a painting apparatus, the combination with a reservoir, ofa paint-conveyer, and a scraper adapted to scrape the paint from said conveyer upon the wire, substantially as described.

18. A wire-insulating apparatus consisting of a liquid-reservoir arranged below the wire, means supporting said reservoir from the wire, and means for applying liquid from said reservoir in a stream to the wire to be coated, substantially as described.

- GEORGE e. LEWIS.

Witnesses:

EARL R. DRAKE, I J OHN L. JACKSON.

the combina- 

